Ivermectin and Fenbendazole are popular antiparasitic drugs well-known to the scientific community. Their therapeutic efficacy and reliability have been the subject of many clinical studies.
But what’s better: Ivermectin or Fenbendazole? Do these drugs have the same properties? How effective are they? What are the study results? Let’s look into it!
Basic information about Ivermectin:
- Indications for humans: pimples with rosacea, head lice, sarcoptic scabies, anguillulosis, crusted scabies, or onchocerciasis.
- Uses in animals: parasitic worms in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Broad spectrum agent.
- It appeared on the pharmaceutical market in 1971 (in 1987 as a remedy for humans).
- Stromectol, Soolantra, Sklice and Vastreka are brand names.
- It is available as oral tablets, as well as creams and lotions for external use (for humans) and suspensions (for animals).
Basic information about Fenbendazole:
- Not approved for humans.
- Uses in animals: parasitic worms in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Broad spectrum agent.
- It appeared on the pharmaceutical market in 1974.
- Panacur is a brand name.
- It is available as a suspension for oral administration.
These drugs have a common indication — treating parasitic intestinal infections in animals. The TGA has not approved Fenbendazole for humans, which is the main difference from Ivermectin.
Only a doctor can prescribe the medicine you should use to treat your condition. In the case of animals, a veterinarian makes all decisions.
Ivermectin vs Fenbendazole for cancer
The mechanism of action of Ivermectin is not fully defined, but there are some studies supporting its anti-cancer effect. According to some data, this drug prevents the development of tumor cells through the inhibition of:
- MAPK pathway.
- PAK1 protein.
- Akt/mTOR pathway.
- Wnt pathway.
- YAP1 protein.
- DDX23 helicase.
- HSP27.
- KPNB1 protein.
- Cancer stem cells.
- P-glycoprotein and MDR protein.
- SIN3 domain.
Fenbendazole as an anti-cancer agent has generated much interest in the last few years. Additional studies of the drug have shown promising results in cancer treatment. A study supports that Fenbendazole:
- suppresses microtubule dynamics;
- stops the division of cancer cells.
However, the above studies gave no convincing evidence that Ivermectin or Fenbendazole may be important in cancer therapy. But it is clear that this class of drugs deserves further investigation.
Conclusion
Ivermectin and Fenbendazole are effective and safe antiparasitic drugs that have long been used in medical practice. They have similar properties and therapeutic effects, but they are different medicines.
There are documented drug studies on their effect on cancer. However, too few people participated in the studies to come to definitive conclusions. These drugs can potentially treat cancer, but more studies are needed.
